Each year as part of its World's Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure releases a list of the 100 best hotels in the world (as decided by the travel publication's readers), with remote resorts — like a five-star eco-friendly resort at the edge of Chile and a faraway luxury fishing lodge in the New Zealand wilderness — being a major trend this year.
As you might expect, these are some of the most unique properties you can book — which means you generally can't redeem your hotel points for a free stay. Fortunately, the Citi Prestige card offers some relief, in the form of a tremendous 4th Night Free benefit. For example, a one-bedroom villa at the #1 property on the list, Nihiwatu, which is located in Sumba, Indonesia, will run you $650 per night during the low season, plus 11% in taxes ($71) and a 10% service charge ($65). If you book through Citi Prestige, you'll get the fourth night free, including taxes (but not the service charge). That'll bring the total cost of a four-night stay down from $3,146 to $2,425.
While the majority of the hotels on the list are smaller, independently owned properties, two points-hotels did make the cut — you can book a stay at Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Peru's Sacred Valley (#74), an SPG Category 5 property priced from 12,000 Starpoints per night, or The St. Regis Bali Resort (#35), an SPG Category 7 property, from 31,500 Starpoints per night (as this particular hotel doesn't have base rooms). Many of the others listed can also be booked through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts if you're an Amex Platinum cardholder.
Despite the potential lucrative benefits when booking through Amex FHR, you'll still come out ahead with Citi Prestige — the card's 4th Night Free perk is the most valuable card benefit out there, assuming you like to stay at luxury hotels. TPG Editor-in-Chief Zach Honig got a $1,490 rebate for a four-night stay at Amanpulo in the Philippines, so there's clearly incredible value to be had. You can also consider booking your stay with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which lets you earn 2x points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide.
